Santorum, Rand Paul, More Pro-Lifers to Address GOP Convention

The Republican National Committee today announced the second list of headliners addressing the Republican National Convention August 27-30. The speakers include Rick Santorum, Sen. Rand Paul and more pro-life elected officials.

Additional convention speakers, including the keynote, will be announced in the coming days and weeks.

The new speakers RNC chairman Reince Priebus announced today include 2012 presidential primary candidate and former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who is pro-life. Senator Rand Paul, junior senator from Kentucky and founder of the U.S. Senate Tea Party Caucus, was added to the GOP convention speakers list as well.

Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, 43rd governor of Florida and current chairman of the Foundation for Florida’s Future as well as pro-life Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin, the first woman to serve as both Oklahoma lieutenant governor and governor, will speak to delegates.

“I am thrilled to announce Governor Bush, Governor Fallin, Senator Paul and Senator Santorum will address our convention,” said Priebus. “As our party unites around Governor Romney, these four great leaders will lend their voices in support of his vision to get America back on track.”

“Governors Bush and Fallin, and Senators Paul and Santorum are among our party’s most respected leaders, and their participation at the Republican Convention will help generate enthusiasm for Governor Romney’s plans to strengthen our economy,” said convention Chief Executive Officer William Harris.

Santorum talked about the election in comments the RNC distributed with the announcement.

“I am so passionate about this election because the core principles of our country are at stake. The Republican National Convention is an important time for us to rally behind Mitt Romney and his vision to put our country back on track,” he said. “We need a leader in the White House who is committed to reforming government. The contrast between President Obama and Mitt Romney could not be greater. Conservatives from across the country are rallying together and we will make our voices heard in a few weeks in Tampa.”

Sen Paul added: “In the past four years, we have seen the national debt soar at the hands of failed Democrat policies. We are nearing a fiscal cliff and are in desperate need of a change of direction. Whether it is Obamacare, Dodd-Frank or the EPA’s war on coal, American jobs and growth are being stifled by the current policies. I believe Governor Romney would help our country start a new path, where job creators are encouraged not punished, and where the size and scope of government are brought under control. I am honored to speak about our Republican vision for the future at the national convention in Tampa.”

Yesterday, the RNC announced two pro-life women governors, Nikki Haley and Susana Martinez, are among those who will receive time at the convention to address the delegates and other attendees. Haley, who is Indian American, was the first woman elected as governor of South Carolina and Martinez is one of the leading pro-life Hispanics and the first Latina woman elected governor of New Mexico.

John McCain, the party’s 2008 presidential nominee and campaigned on a pro-life position, will also be a featured speaker.

Joining them will be former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee, a pro-life advocate who campaigned for the GOP nomination in 2008. Pro-life governor John Kasich of Ohio and Rick Scott of Florida will speak as well and represent their important battleground states.

The 2012 Republican National Convention will be held at the Tampa Bay Times Forum August 27-30, 2012.